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Morris to make long-awaited AFL return

Sam Lienert

Veteran Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris will play his first AFL game in 18 months in Friday night's pre-season opener as he returns from major leg injuries.

Essendon's former St Kilda star recruit Brendon Goddard will make his debut for the Bombers.

And Collingwood AFL-experienced recruits Ben Hudson, Quinten Lynch, Clinton Young and Jordan Russell will represent the Magpies for the first time in Friday night's triple-header at Etihad Stadium, while half-forward Brent Macaffer will make his comeback.

Morris sustained a badly broken leg late in the 2011 season and his attempt to make a comeback last year was ruined when he was diagnosed with a separate stress fracture.

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How the 30-year-old fares in his return this season will be critical for the Bulldogs, whose defence is extremely inexperienced, after they lost Brian Lake to Hawthorn and Ryan Hargrave to retirement at the end of last season.

The Dogs will also give Nick Lower (recruited from Fremantle) and Tom Young (Collingwood) their first games with the club, along with mature-aged recruit Brett Goodes, brother of Sydney's Adam, and untried pair Jack Redpath and Jack Macrae.

But key position player Tom Williams, on the comeback trail from a foot injury, was not included.

Collingwood's Macaffer will play his first match since seriously injuring his knee in last year's pre-season.

The Magpies' squad also includes rookie-listers Kyle Martin, Sam Dwyer and Jack Frost, all recruited from the VFL, along with giant young ruck prospect, Jarrod Witts, who is yet to make his AFL debut.

The Magpies have also named 13 premiership players, with captain Nick Maxwell, Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke and Dayne Beams among them.